Doctor in drug research row quits NHS post

Sunday 15 January 2006 09.02 EST
First published on Sunday 15 January 2006 09.02 EST

A senior doctor at the centre of a row over the probity of pharmaceutical research has resigned from his NHS post before the outcome of an inquiry into separate allegations.

Professor Richard Eastell has left his job as director of research at the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Trust following claims of financial irregularities. Eastell had been suspended from his NHS work while the hospital investigated allegations that he was charging the NHS for work that should have been done privately.

In November, The Observer reported on allegations, made by a whistleblower who worked with Eastell at Sheffield University, that a drugs company had been given too much power over medical trial data. Dr Aubrey Blumsohn claimed Eastell had allowed a medical paper to be published by Procter and Gamble under researchers' names, without the researchers being allowed full access to data. The study was looking at the effects of an osteoporosis drug.

Eastell will continue as an honorary consultant at the hospital, and will be employed by Sheffield University. A hospital spokesman said because Eastell had resigned before the inquiry finished, it could not reach a verdict.